[Interview] When a Washer Becomes Furniture: Meet the Designers Behind the Red Dot Design Award 2026

Embodying its human-centered design approach, “Expressive Design”, Samsung Electronics achieved a remarkable milestone at the globally renowned Red Dot Design Award 2026, with all 16 of its submitted entries1 recognized.

The Bespoke AI Laundry appliances — honored with the Best of the Best award — highlighted how home appliances can evolve into design objects that elevate the overall aesthetics of a space.

Samsung Newsroom spoke with designers from the Digital Appliances (DA) Business to discuss the evolution of home appliance design and its significance.

▲ (Clockwise from top left) Jichang Kang, Giryeong Park, Euigyun Ko, YoonKyung Kang, Jinsun Park, Seungwook Seo, Seongjun Kim and Hyerin Park

Uni-Body Aesthetics for Everyday Living

The Bespoke AI Laundry appliances — demonstrates how home appliances can harmonize within users’ living spaces. By applying the uni-body design across its lineup — including separate washer and dryer units, vertically integrated one-body models and all-in-one combo appliances — it creates a unified design language.

▲ The Bespoke AI Laundry appliances features a harmonious design with a unified front in a single color, material and finish (CMF) that blends into any space.

Q. What led to the adoption of a uni-body design across this year’s Bespoke AI washer lineup?

Jinsun Park: Samsung’s uni-body design concept serves as a key strategy for establishing a consistent brand identity across appliances. Regardless of the form factor, users can experience a consistent aesthetic, with the appliances adding to the overall atmosphere as furniture. By removing unnecessary elements, this approach also aligns with Samsung’s ESG vision, improving repairability and extending the product lifespan.

▲ Jinsun Park of the Living Design Group, DA Business, outlines the design concept behind the Bespoke AI Laundry appliances.

Q. The Bespoke AI Combo features key structural changes. How did you collaborate with the R&D team to incorporate these?

Jinsun Park: The Bespoke AI Combo was designed for users with limited space who cannot accommodate a separate dryer, so we needed to deliver the full performance of a standalone dryer within a compact washer-sized form factor, which made the design very challenging.

When designing the auto dispenser, we worked closely with the R&D team to carefully refine pump placement and assembly structures, securing an additional milliliter of capacity within the densely packed layout.

For the lint filter, we focused on easy front access — even when built into cabinetry — while maintaining Bespoke’s seamless aesthetic by minimizing visible gaps and joints.